Nebulizer



Nov. 21, 1967 F. M. BIRD ET AL NEBULI ZER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April13, 1965 Fig.3

INVENTORS d? a@ Wm .r n r "mm m .P, A M. ...L@ 8 RH United States Patent3,353,536 NEBULIZER Forrest M. Bird, Airport, Box 970, Palm Springs,Calif. 92262, and Henry L. Pohndorf, 1227 Brewster Drive, El Cerrito,Calif. 94530 Filed Apr. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 447,852 8 Claims. (Cl.128-194) ABSTRACT OF THE DISQLOSURE Nebilizer having a container and acover removably mounted on the container and in which the cover isformed with an inlet passage and outlet passage and with a skirt whichis disposed in front of the inlet passage and the outlet passage, thecover havinga nozzle mounted thereon for taking fluid from the containerand nebulizing the same at a point which is above the lower extremity ofthe skirt.

This invention relates to a nebulizer and more particularly to anebulizer which can be utilized for long-term therapy.

Nebulizers heretofore available have either been relatively small insize requiring frequent re-filling, or have been very expensive for thelarger sizes.- There is, therefore, a need for a new and improved lowprice nebulizer which can be utilized for long-term therapy.

In general, it is an object of the present invention to provide anebulizer which can be utilized for long-term therapy for allapplications where oxygen or air is admin istered to a patient.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nebulizer of the abovecharacter which is relatively inexpensive.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nebulizer of the abovecharacter which can be used on many different types of respirators.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nebulizer of the abovecharacter which can be readily filled and refilled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nebulizer of the abovecharacter which can be readily maintained.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nebulizer of the abovecharacter which can be readily cleaned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nebulizer of the abovecharacter in which the critical parts are always in alignment.

Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from thefollowing description in which the preferred embodiment is set forth indetail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a neubulizer incorporating thepresent invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the nebulizer shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the nebulizer shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view partially in crosssection of aportion of the nebulizer shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view similar to that shown in FIGURE 1showing another way of using the nebulizer and showing the cap incross-section.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the nebulizer shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the nebulizershown in FIGURE 6.

In general, the nebulizer is utilized for supplying small liquidparticles in a mainstream of gases supplied to a patient. The nebulizerconsists of a container defining a chamber which is adapted to contain aliquid. A cover is removably mounted on the container and is formed withinlet and outlet passages having relatively large crosssectional areasfor carrying the mainstream of gases for the patient. A nozzle ismounted on the cover and has a passage therein for supplying additionalgases into the chamber and mixing with the mainstream gases. A nipple isformed on the nozzle and has a passage opening into the passage in thenozzle. A tube is connected to the nipple and is adapted to extend intothe liquid in the container so that as gases pass through the nozzle,the liquid is drawn upwardly and entrained in the gases passing throughthe nozzle. Means is mounted in the cover and provides a surfacedisposed in front of the nozzle to break up the liquid particlesentrained in the gases passing from the nozzle. A skirt is mounted inthe cover and surrounds the nozzle and has its lower extremity extendingbeyond the point at which the liquid particles impinge upon the surfacewhereby the larger particles engage the skirt and fall back into theliquid in the reservoir and the smaller particles are picked up by themainstream of gases passing from the inletpassage and into the outletpassage.

As shown in the drawing, the nebulizer consists of a container 11 with acastellated cover 12 removably mounted thereon. The container 11 can beformed in any suitable shape as, for example, cylindrically, as shown inthe drawings, and can be formed of any suitable material such as atransparent plastic. The container can be of any suitable size butpreferably should be relatively large in order to provide a relativelylarge chamber 13 for long-term therapy as hereinafter described. Thus,the container can be of a size such as to contain 500 cc. of liquid. Ifdesired, as shown particularly in FIGURE 1, the container 11 can beprovided with vertical calibrations 14 so that the amount of liquid inthe chamber can be readily determined by visually examining the level ofthe liquid in the chamber or reservoir.

The container 11 is open at the top and is provided with threads 15 onits upper extremity. The cove-r 12 can also be formed of a suitablematerial such as an opaque plastic and can be of any suitable shape. Forexample, as shown in the drawings, it can have a dome-shaped portion 12aand a cylindrical portion 12b. The cylindrical portion 12b is providedwith threads which are adapted to cooperate with the threads 15 to forma threaded connection between the cover 12 and the container 11.

The cover 12 is provided with extensions 16 and 17 which have axiallyaligned inlet and outlet passages 18 and 19 formed therein havingrelatively large cross-secional areas for carrying the mainstream gasesfor the patient. As shown in the drawing, the outlet passage 19 isslightly larger than the inlet passage 18. However, it should be pointedout that the functions of the two passages can be reversed.

The cover 12 is provided with an annular recess 21 which carries anO-ring 22 which is adapted to engage the top edge of the reservoir 11 toform a tight seal between the cover .12 and the reservoir 11 as shownparticularly in FIGURE 4.

The upper portion of the cover is provided with a frustoconicaldepending skirt 24 which extends downwardly into the cover 12 for asubstantial distance and which has its lowermost extremity substantiallybelow the lower portions of the inlet and outlet passages 18 and 19 fora purpose hereinafter described. The skirt 24 is provided with a slightinward taper in a downward direction and forms a large opening 26 in thetop of the cover 12. The cover 12 is also provided with a verticallyextending threaded boss 27 which has a mantle 28 threadedly mountedthereon. The mantle 28 is provided with large and small plug-like maleportions 28a and 28b.

The male portion 28a is of a size so that it can be inserted in theoutlet passage 19 to plug the same, whereas the portion 28b is of such asize that it can be inserted in the inlet passage 18 to plug thatpassage when desired.

The large opening 26 provided in the cover 12 is normally closed by alarge plug or crown 31. The plug is provided with a frustoconicalportion 31a and a planar bottom wall portion 31b which adjoins thefrustoconical portion 31a. The plug is also provided with an outwardlyextending lip 31c. An arcuate recess 32 is formed in the lip portion 310to accommodate the mantle or cap 28. As can be seen from FIGURE 4, theplug 31 forms a relatively tight fit in the skirt 24 and normally sealsthe opening 26.

A nozzle 34 is mounted in the plug 31 and is formed as an integral partthereof and extends through the bottom wall portion 31b. The nozzle 34is provided with a vertically extending passage 36 which has a taperedportion 36a and a capillary-like portion 36b which are in communicationwith a port or orifice 37 disposed below the bottom wall portion 31b toprovide a downwardly directed jet of air. The nozzle is provided with anipple 38 which has a passage 39 which communicates with the passage 36.The nozzle 34 and the nipple 38 are cast as integral parts so that theycannot become misaligned. This assures maximum efficiency of the nozzleat all times. A flexible tube 41 of a suitable material such as plasticis mounted on the nipple 38 and is adapted to extend downwardly into thechamber 13 and into the liquid carried in the container 11. Ashereinafter described, the nozzle 34 is adapted to carry gases andthrough conventional aspirator action, is able to draw liquid from thechamber 13 and to cause liquid particles to be entrained in the gases asthey pass through the nozzle 37.

By way of example, one nozzle 34 and nipple 38 had the followingdimensions. The passage 36 had a diameter of .025 inch; the passage 39had a diameter of .045 inch; and the port or orifice 37 had a diameterof .047 inch. The tapered portion 36a of the passage 36 had an includedangle of 8". The portion 36b had a length of A of an inch and theorifice or port 37 had a length of .067 inch. Thus, in this example, theratio of the size of the portion 36b of the passage 36 and the orifice37 is .025 1.047, and the ratio of the area was 1:3.54.

Means is provided on the plug 31 which forms a surface disposed in frontof the nozzle for breaking up the liquid particles entrained in thegases passing from the port 37 This means consists of a ball 42 which isformed as an integral part of a substantially U-shaped pendant 43. Thependant 43 is provided with upper tapered portions 43a which are adaptedto fit relatively tightly in holes 44 provided in bosses 46 formedintegral with the planar bottom wall portion 31b. The pendant 43 is sopositioned so that the spherical surface provided by the ball 44 isdisposed slightly below the port 37 for the nozzle 34. It also will benoted that the port 37 and the ball 42 are positioned so that the gasescarrying the liquid particles impinge upon the ball at a point which isabove the lower extremity of the skirt 24 or, in other words, the skirt24 extends beyond the point at which the liquid particles impinge uponthe ball 42.

The plug 31 is also provided with a pair of risers 48 which havepassages 49 extending therethrough. Caps 51 of a suitable material, suchas rubber, are mounted over the risers and close the upper ends of thepassages 49.

Suitable additional fittings are provided for use with the nebulizer.For example, as shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4, a fitting assembly 56 isprovided which consists of a T-shaped fitting 57. The fitting 57 has oneleg 5711 which is tapered and adapted to seat within the passage 36provided in the nozzle 34. The fitting is also provided with nipples 57band 57c which are stepped as shown and which are connected to tubes 58and 59. Tube 58 is adapted to be connected to a source of gas underpressure so that the gas is supplied to the nozzle 34. The tube 59 isadapted to be connected to other accessories as, for

example, an exhalation valve of a breathing assembly provided as a partof a respirator.

In FIGURES 5 and 6, another fitting assembly 61 is provided whichconsists of an extension member 62 which is provided with a cap 63whichis adapted to be threaded onto the threaded boss 27 and a taperedelement 64 which is adapted to seat within a tapered recess 66 providedin the boss 27. The extension member 62 can be formed of any suitablematerial such as plastic. It is provided with a vertically extendingpassage 67. It also is provided with an integral fitting 68 which has apassage 69 therein opening into the passage 67. A tube 71 is mounted onthe fitting 68. An adapter 72 is mounted on the other end of the tube 71and is provided with a tapered portion 72a adapted to fit within thepassage 36 provided in the nozzle 34. The adapter is provided with apassage 73 which opens into the tube 71. A metal fitting 76 is mountedon the upper end of the extension member 72 and has a swivel 77 of aconventional type mounted thereon which is adapted to be connected to anoutlet assembly 78 of a conventional type that is connected to a sourceof gas 79 under pressure.

Operation and use of the nebulizer may now be briefly described asfollows. Let it be assumed that the inlet extension 16 is connected tomeans for supplying mainstream gases to a patient, as, for example, arespirator 81 such as disclosed in Patent No. 3,068,856, and that theoutlet extension 17 is connected to a suitable patient adapter such as abreathing assembly and that the fitting assembly 56 has its tube 58connected to a suitable supply of gas under pressure such as suppliedfrom the respirator. Let it also be assumed that the container 11 hasbeen filled to a suitable level with a liquid with which it is desiredto supply to the patient as, for example, water.

In operation, the gases passing through the tube 58 enter the passage 36and the nozzle 34 and discharge at relatively high velocity through theport 37. During the travel of the gases through the passage 36, liquidfrom the container 11 is siphoned through the tube 41 and is entrainedin liquid particles in the gases passing through the passage 36 byconventional aspiratory action and the liquid particles are dischargedwith the jet of gases emerging from the port 37 and impinge upon thespherical surface provided by the ball 42 which breaks the entrainedparticles of liquid into many smaller particles as, for example,particles having a size of .5 to 4 microns. These particles, with thejet of air, are dispersed downwardly within the skirt 24. Certain of thelarger normally undesirable particles collect on the skirt, whereas thesmaller particles enter the mainstream of gases passing through thenebulizer from the inlet passage 18 and around the skirt 24 out theoutlet passage to the patient. Since the mainstream does not take adirect route across the point at which the gas jet emerging from theport 37 strikes the ball 42 because of the protection afforded by theskirt 24, the mainstream of gases passing around the skirt 24 will onlypick up or capture those smaller particles which readily travel with thegases, whereas the larger particles will be collected by the skirt 24and will drain down into the container 11. The smaller particlescaptured by the main air stream passing through the nebulizer aredelivered to the patient so that the patient is supplied with properlymoistened gases.

The integral one-piece construction of the nozzle 34 and nipple 38,which alternatively can be called a one-piece air jet capillary anddischarge port assembly, is relatively important. This is because theamount of liquid delivered to the pendant ball 42 through the meteringorifice 37 is determined by its size relationship with respect to thesize of the passage 36a and the length of the passage 39 that must bebridged by the jet of gases which passes from the passage 36 through theorifice 37. Thus, the area of the passage 36b, the length of the freegas jet travel across the passage 39 to the inlet of the larger orifice37 and the relationship of the large orifice 37 to the passage 36bcontrols the amount of liquid placed in the jet stream and which isslammed against the ball 42 and thus, in a great measure, determiningthe availability of the volume of liquid to be suspended in themechanical airway to the patient. The element efficiency of the jetcapillary construction depends greatly on the registration orconcentricity of the jet orifice 36b and the discharge orifice 37 whichemits the mixed gas and liquid. The present construction precludesmisalignment of the parts. The size of the ball 42 determines theparticulate size.

When the nebulizer is connected as shown in FIGURES 14, an in-lineconnection is provided for the mainstream gases and all of themainstream gases as, for. example, all of the inspired gases duringpressure breathing, can be caused to flow directly through the nebulizerto make possible maximum transport of the liquid particles to thepatient. Additional liquids for giving the necessary therapy to thepatient, such as anaesthetic agents, drugs and bronchodialators, can beintroduced by way of hypodermic needles through the caps 51 and throughthe passage 49 provided in the risers 48. The chamber or reservoir 13can be refilled during the expiratory phase merely by removing the cover12 and filling the reservoir without disconnecting the various fittings.Alternatively, if desired, the container 11 can be unscrewed from thecover 12, filled with liquid and then screwed back into the cover.

The operation is substantially identical with the use of the fittingassembly 61 provided in FIGURES and 6. However, in this arrangement, themantle 28 closes the inlet passage 18 and the only gas which passesthrough the nebulizer and out the outlet passage 19 is the gas suppliedthrough the nozzle 34. Such an arrangement is used where the patient isbeing supplied with oxygen through a nasal catheter, etc. Since theoxygen passes through the nebulizer, it is properly moistened for thepatients use.

The crown 31 can act as a relief valve which will automatically pop outof the cover 12 when excessive high pressure gases accumulate in themechanical airway to the patient.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the nebulizer may be used incombination with any metered oxygen supply to provide a suspension ofwater particles to resolve any humidity deficit in the gases beingsupplied to the patient. Thus, the nebulizer may also be called ahumidifier. The container 11 is of sufficient size so that continuoustherapy can be provided for the patient. The inlet and outlets are inline and can be reversed. The nebulizer humidifier can be appliedwithout alternation on free flow oxygen inhalation therapy or pulmonarytherapy.

We claim:

1. In a nebulizer for supplying small liquid particles in a mainstreamof gases supplied to a patient, a container forming a chamber adapted tocontain a liquid, a cover mounted on said container, the cover beingformed with an inlet opening and an outlet opening for carrying mainstream gases to the patient, a nozzle mounted on said cover and having apassage therein for supplying gases into the chamber, an additionalpassage formed in said nozzle and communicating with said first namedpassage, means connecting said additional passage to the fluid in thereservoir, means mounted in the cover providing a surface disposed infront of the nozzle for breaking up liquid particles entrained in thegases passing from the nozzle, and a skirt disposed in the cover andsurrounding the nozzle and having its lower extremity extending belowsaid inlet and outlet openings and below the point at which the liquidparticles impinge upon said surface, said skirt being disposed in frontof said inlet opening and said outlet opening and in said mainstreamgases so that the mainstream gases have a tendency to flow around theskirt.

2. A nebulizer as in claim 1 wherein said cover has a large openingformed therein, a plug removably mounted in said cover and closing saidopening and wherein said nozzle and said means providing a surface aremounted on said plug.

3. A nebulizer as in claim 1 wherein the inlet and outlet passages arein alignment and wherein the nozzle is disposed so that the gasesjetting therefrom are substantially at right angles to the aligned inletand outlet passages.

4. In a nebulizer for supplying small liquid particles in a mainstreamof gases supplied to a patient, a container forming a chamber adapted tocontain a liquid, a cover removably mounted on said reservoir and beingformed with axially aligned inlet and outlet passages having relativelylarge cross-sectional areas for carrying the mainstream of gases for thepatient, a cylindrical skirt formed in the cover and defining arelatively large opening extending downwardly at right angles to andbelow the axially aligned inlet and outlet passages, the skirt beingdisposed in front of the inlet and outlet passages in the main airstreamso that the mainstream gases have a tendency to flow around the skirt, aplug removably mounted in said large opening in the cover and serving toclose the same, a nozzle mounted in said plug and having a downwardlydisposed port so that gases jetting therefrom pass in a direction whichis substantially at right angles to the direction of flow of themainstream gases through the nebulizer, said nozzle being formed with anadditional passage, means connecting said additional passage to theliquid in the container so that as gases pass through the nozzle, liquidis siphoned from the container and entrained in the gases, and meansmounted on the cover supporting a substantially spherical surfacedisposed in front of the nozzle for breaking up the liquid particlesentrained in the gases passing from the port into smaller particles.

5. A nebulizer as in claim 4 together with a boss mounted on said coverand a mantle removably mounted on said boss, said mantle having portionsthereof adapted to be inserted in either said inlet passage or saidoutlet passage to close either said inlet passage or said outletpassage.

6. A nebulizer as in claim 4 wherein said means supporting saidsubstantially spherical surface consists of a substantially U-shapedmember removably mounted in said plug.

7. A nebulizer as in claim 4 together with at least one riser mounted onsaid plug, a passage in said riser, and a resilient cap mounted on saidriser and closing said passage.

8. A nebulizer as in claim 4 wherein said substantially sphericalsurface is positioned so that it is above the lower extremity of theskirt.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,709,577 5/1955 Pohndorf et a1128185 2,840,417 6/1958 Dorsak et a1. 128-194 3,018,971 1/196-2 Cheney239-338 3,172,406 3/1965 Bird et al. 128-194 3,206,175 9/1965 Boteler128188 3,269,665 8/1966 Cheney 239338 FOREIGN PATENTS 452,438 11/1948Canada.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. K. L. HOWELL, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A NEBULIZER FOR SUPPLYING SMALL LIQUID PARTICLES IN A MAINSTREAMOF GASES SUPPLIED TO A PATIENT, A CONTAINER FORMING A CHAMBER ADAPTED TOCONTAIN A LIQUID, A COVER MOUNTED ON SAID CONTAINER, THE COVER BEINGFORMED WITH AN INLET OPENING AND AN OUTLET OPENING FOR CARRYINGMAINSTREAM GASES TO THE PATIENT, A NOZZLE MOUNTED ON SAID COVER ANDHAVING A PASSAGE THEREIN FOR SUPPLYING GASES INTO THE CHAMBER, ANDADDITIONAL PASSAGE FORMED IN SAID NOZZLE AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAIDFIRST NAMED PASSAGE, MEANS CONNECTING SAID ADDITIONAL PASSAGE TO THEFLUID IN THE RESERVOIR, MEANS MOUNTED IN THE COVER PROVIDING A SURFACEDISPOSED IN FRONT OF THE NOZZLE FOR BREAKING UP LIQUID PARTICLESENTRAINED IN THE GASES PASSING FROM THE NOZZLE, AND A SKIRT DISPOSED INTHE COVER AND SURROUNDING THE NOZZLE AND HAVING ITS LOWER EXTREMITYEXTENDING BELOW SAID INLET AND OUTLET OPENINGS AND BELOW THE POINT ATWHICH THE LIQUID PARTICLES IMPINGE UPON SAID SURFACE, SAID SKIRT BEINGDISPOSED IN FRONT OF SAID INLET OPENING AND SAID OUTLET OPENING AND INSAID MAINSTREAM GASES SO THAT THE MAINSTREAM GASES HAVE A TENDENCY TOFLOW AROUND THE SKIRT.